Exclusive Q&A with Chris Pronger on surgery, Ilya Bryzgalov

Four weeks removed from the first back surgery of his career, Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger talked with me today about his recovery and the Flyers acquiring the negotiating rights to goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov, who won a Stanley Cup with Pronger when both were in Anaheim in 2007:

How are you feeling?

I’m doing all right.

Allowed to do jumping jacks yet?

No. I’ve got to go see the doctor next week before I take off. I can walk on a treadmill and I rode the (stationary) bike this morning, lightly. Nothing where I’m exerting myself or torquing my back or anything. Just spinning the wheels.

How does it feel?

I don’t know. I don’t really know how it’s supposed to feel. They told me I couldn’t really do much. I’ve never really had pain. It was more a disc hitting my nerve and it was my nerve causing me the difficulty with shooting pain down my leg and making my leg numb. But my back was never painful.

Can I ask you about Bryzgalov?

Yes, you can.

What are your impressions of him now compared to when he was a teammate of yours in Anaheim.

Well, I think a goalie’s maturation process usually is a lot later than forwards or defensemen. If you look at most goalies there are very few Patrick Roys or Marty Brodeurs that start when they’re 20 and play 60, 70, 80 games. For the most they normally play three years in the minors to get that seasoning and technique and work their way in. From the time I was with him in Anaheim he was an very gifted, athletic goalie who could stop the puck and that was in a limited role. Now, you see three-plus years in Phoenix where he’s carried them to the playoffs, predominantly on his back. He’s played extremely well for them.

When you game plan against him, do you see a weakness?

Nowadays, in our game you have to have traffic to score. He’s a very athletic goalie, much like Bob. He;s got great reflexes so you need traffic and getting guys in front of him to score goals.

Is he among the elite goaltenders in your opinion?

Well, I think if yiou look at his play over the last three years you pretty much have to put him there. I don’t know. Who do you consider the elite goalies in the league?

Well, I think a lot of people will say Ryan Miller, Henrik Lundqvist, Tim Thomas. Is he in that category?

You probably have Miller, Lundqvist, Kiprusoff. Bryz, I would have to say, has done as much as those guys. If you want to start compare stats, I’m sure he compares quite well against all those guys.
Long before you got here I’m sure you heard about the Flyers’ need for a goaltender. Do you think this will finally silence those questions?
I don’t think it’s ever going to be silenced until we win a Stanley Cup. (Laughter) You laugh, but that’s what it’s going to take. It doesn’t matter if the guy goes out and wins the Vezina Trophy. If he doesn’t help the team win the Stanley Cup – at the end of the day that’s what we’re all graded on. Did you guys win? No? There are 29 teams, including us, that are looking to fill holes because they didn’t win. You’re not happy, or at least you shouldn’t be. There are always going to be teams that are just happy to make the playoffs, but most players who want to win don’t want to be on those teams. Most player want to have a chance to win and be on a team they feel has a legitimate shot.

I’ve heard some stories. What’s he like as a teammate?

Goalies are a different breed, man. We’ve all been around enough of them. To stand in front of a hundred mile an hour slapshot you’ve to be born of a different cloth. He’s no different. He’s got his quirks and eccentricities just like the rest of us. But as a goaltender, they seem to take it to a whole new level. I wouldn’t put him above or below any other one.

You know he’ll command a lot of money. Are you concerned about who has to go to fit him under the cap?

Yeah, that’s the nature of the salary cap era, the nature of the beast. To be a top contending team with veteran players you need to find the money somewhere. That will be the trick, where to find it. It won’t be easy. That’s the juggling act every team now is involved in.

About this Blog

On the ice and in the locker room with the Philadelphia Flyers

About the Author

Dave Isaac joined the Courier-Post in April 2012 after covering the Flyers for the past three seasons. He graduated from Temple University with a degree in Broadcast Journalism.
Follow Dave on Twitter @davegisaac.